The application of the response surface methodology was effective in optimizing the parameters for the transglutaminase
activity in ice cream The enzymatic treatment increased considerably the consistency index, until a maximum TG concentration at 4 U g1 protein with 90 min of reaction, and increased the pseudoplastic properties in relation to the control sample, due to the high-molecular-weight polymers formed during the cross-linking reaction. These polymers were confirmed with the aid of electrophoresis, which showed that the k-caseins were more susceptible to attack from the TG than the whey proteins in the ice cream. These results demonstrated that TG can improve the functional properties of ice cream, where few cross-links are needed to achieve optimal results and, thus, regulation of the degree of crosslinking
is crucial to achieving optimal protein functionality.